16 photos from the first day of Spain's 'Running of the Bulls' that prove how wild the event is

The fastest run on record was set last year at two minutes and five seconds. Eloy Alonso/Reuters Each year, 1000s of runners dash through the cobbled streets of Pamplona, Spain, during the Festival of San Fermin, which is held from July 6 to 14 annually.

Thrill seekers take part in the festival's "Encierro," or Running of the Bulls, in which bulls are let loose when the clock strikes 8 a.m. The purpose of this exercises is one born out of necessity — to get the bulls from their corral into the bullring, which is 2,706 feet away.

While the event is usually over in a few minutes, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the tiny town each year.

Check out the wild images below for a look into this deep-rooted tradition, which is said to have originated in the early 14th century.

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The Festival of San Fermin honors the patron saint of the city, San Fermin. His statue is paraded through the streets each day during it.

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“Running of the bulls” translates to “encierro” in Spanish. This portion of the festival is the most famous, as well as the most popular.

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While it dates back to medieval times, it was made popular by Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." The book follows British and American expats who travel to Pamplona for the run.

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Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the tiny town of Pamplona to witness the run for themselves.

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Besides the bull run, the 9-day festival also features a lot of drinking and partying.

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Did we mention the drinking?

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The tradition stems from the practical need of getting the bulls from the outskirts of the city into the bullring at the center of town.

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The first encierro takes place on the second day of the festival, July 7, and occurs every morning until the festival's last day on July 14.

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Before the run, revelers hold up red scarves. The scarves are a nod to San Fermin’s martyrdom and bravery.

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The typical bull running uniform is all white with a red scarf tied either around the neck or waist. The white represents San Fermin's sainthood, while the red represents his martyrdom.

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Each run starts at exactly 8 a.m. It usually only lasts about three minutes.

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Participants, known as mozos, will face six angry bulls per run.

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The narrow, 2,706-foot course takes thrill-seekers from the bull’s holding area to the bullring, where the bulls will later be fought by professional matadors.

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There's a high risk of getting injured — participants are often tossed, dragged, and charged at.

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This year's first run saw four hospitalizations.

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The less brave (or more sane) will cheer from balconies, often throwing down water to cool participants off in the summer heat.